A Family Legacy Series

Jokes: An elderly gentleman was having a great time at a senior citizen’s seminar when a young woman asked

him what kind of plans he had for the future. The 75 year old man said, “Honey, at my age, I don’t even buy

green bananas.”

George Burns, an expert on growing old, said you know your getting old when:

-The gleam in your eyes is from the sun hitting your bifocals

-You get winded playing chess

-Your children start to look middle-aged

-you sit in a rocking chair but you can’t get it going

-dialing long distance wears you out

-the little gray-haired woman you help across the street is your wife

-your knees buckle but your belt won’t

1. Introduction

a. We have been talking about leaving something behind for eternity, something that will last, more

than just a memory, an etched gravestone, or a few treasured family photos.

i. We call that which we leave behind a legacy.

ii. One of the most important responsibilities as your pastor is to help you leave a legacy

that lasts; to make your life count for something more than the possessions you

accumulate; to live in such a way that this world is changed because you touched

someone’s life.

1. It is my hope and prayer that each of us would leave multiple legacies in the lives

we touch.

2. This week we will learn how we can leave a lasting family legacy.

2. Blessings and Curses

a. As I was looking through the bible to understand family legacies, I came back to Abraham and to

his sons and his grandsons.

b. Abraham had two sons: One by Hagar (Ishmaal) and one by Sarai (Isaac).

c. Abraham cared about both of them.

i. Genesis 17:17-22 Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be

born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?" And

Abraham said to God, "If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!" Then God said,

"Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will

establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and

will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make

him into a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will

Legacy 3 Bob Higgins Page 1 12/16/2006

bear to you by this time next year." When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God

went up from him.”

ii. Both of them received legacies, Ishmaal became a great nation, but God chose Isaac for

an everlasting covenant.

1. Muslims believe that Ishmaal is the chosen son of Abraham and that they are his

descendents.

2. But the Jews and the bible (which predates the Koran and Mohammed by

well over 1500 years) makes it clear that Isaac is clearly the chosen son.

3. Isaac has his own legacy to pass on:

a. Genesis 27:1-4 “When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see,

he called for Esau his older son and said to him, "My son." "Here I am," he answered. Isaac

said, "I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death. Now then, get your weaponsyour

quiver and bow-and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare

me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing

before I die."

i. Isaac prepares to pass on the family legacy to his oldest son Esau. (eldest by a few

minutes).

1. This legacy or blessing was a very important part of their lives, it was where they

found out what they were getting in dad’s will as well as they believed in the

power of the words spoken over them.

2. The Hebrew word for Blessing is “berakah” which meant to “transmit or endow

the power of God’s goodness and favor” through the spoken word with the laying

on of hands.”(Larry Christenson, The Christian Family, Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1970).

3. These words were often prophetic in their nature and result in their fulfillment in

the child’s life. In Heb 11:20a (Amplified) With eyes of faith Isaac, looking far

into the future, invoked blessings upon Jacob and Esau.

4. A blessing from the parent essentially asks for God’s favor upon the child.

ii. I don’t need to tell you the rest of the story because if you know your bibles, Rebecca,

Jacob and Esau’s mother overhears Isaac’s instructions. She favors her younger son and